Holly and Ivy – what is there to know?

Holly trees can be self-fertile, male or female; so some bushes may need a partner to ensure they can pollinate and produce berries. This is not usually a problem in home gardens though, as Holly trees are quite common in other gardens as well as in the wild, so there should always be a pollinator nearby!

Holly bushes are not only beautiful when in berry, but they can also make excellent security planting, you can surround your property with a hedge of Holly to create a ‘prickly barrier’, which could help stop trespassers reaching your property!

Holly ‘Garden King’

Of course, Holly bushes can also be purchased in ‘standard’ form, with a shape much like a lollipop. These will arrive from Thompson & Morgan ready-shaped, and only need to be trimmed lightly to be kept in shape. Holly standards make excellent container specimens, so why not consider placing one either side of the front door? We offer 3 different forms, each with very different coloured leaves, but all with shiny red berries; Green Alaska, Argentea Marginata and Golden King.

Holly ‘Argentea Marginata’

Before planting up your Holly, bear in mind that they can be slow-growing plants, and they resent disturbance, so make sure you plant them into their final position first time! On the plus side, they are easy to grow in most types of soil, just avoid water logging!

Holly ‘Green Alaska’

Then, there’s Ivy- with its carefree, speedy growth, and ability to grow in the darkest of corners. Choose a beaming variety with golden-edged leaves for the full lighting up effect in a shady corner. Do keep a watch on ivy’s quick growth, and don’t plant it anywhere that it could compromise building structures.

Don’t forget that you can use Ivy in hanging containers too, especially the smaller growth forms. They can be useful for jazzing up winter displays. Maybe even cut some stems and create a traditional Holly and Ivy display, just like the song!

Do you have any more questions? Then post them below, i will be happy to help.